The management of stroke patients by neurologists: common questions and new observations

Abstract

Tools and strategies available for stroke prevention and management have grown impressively during the past decade. Caring for the acute stroke patient has become a priority for emergency medical systems, enhanced by the advances in neuroimaging techniques and acute administration of thrombolytic agents. Light continues to be shed on the pathophysiology of cerebral ischemia and the atherosclerotic process enriching the armamentarium of the clinician in secondary stroke prevention. In spite of major therapeutic developments over the last decade there remains a high level of uncertainty and many recurrent questions pertaining to patient management. Frequent questions of referring physicians that have been posed to this stroke specialist serve as the format for discussing some of the most recent developments in acute stroke care and stroke prevention.